Every animal can talk to you. You just have to know how to listen.Pepper Neely is better at this than most, especially because she is in charge of pet sitting all the familiars in her neighborhood. A familiar is a pet magically linked to a witch or warlock. As a gnome, Pepper is no stranger to spells and sorcery. She also knows that, despite their special name, familiars aren’t all that different from regular animals. They get anxious when separated from their people, so Pepper uses her special gnome powers to calm them down. She watches Cranky the high-strung ferret, Frank the laid-back parrot, King Arthur the elderly tortoise, and many others.Then, something terrible begins happening to the familiars. Someone is stealing their magic! It not only prevents Pepper from communicating with them but breaks their magical connection with their people. When King Arthur’s magic is stolen, his owner’s powers stop working too. Pepper can sense that the tortoise is very scared.In order to protect the animal's magic, Pepper decides to track down the culprit. With the help of her best friend, Luna, and her brother, Jax, Pepper fights to protect all of the special pets.

When did you start writing?
I have always had a strong imagination but thought you had to be “trained” to be a writer. Last year I was about to turn 50 when I heard an author speak on how easy it was to create a cookbook of her favorite family recipes. It struck me like a bolt of lightning. I couldn’t get the thought of writing a novel out of my mind. I bought an electronic notebook and wrote a few sentences. Then a chapter. By the end of the second chapter I was hooked, and I haven’t stopped since!

Other than writing, what are you passionate about?
Animal rescue. I volunteer every chance I get, and I currently have six rescues dogs. Everyone can make a difference in the lives of animals. Adopt, don’t shop. Spay or neuter your pets. Volunteer. Donate. Spread the word. Every bit helps.

What are some of your pet peeves?
People who are negative about something new without even trying it. Also, people who talk on their cellphone while they are walking.

What can we expect from you in the future?
There will hopefully be more Supernatural Pet Sitter installments. Pepper has been very busy, and is currently at my house trying to lift a curse off of the werewolves.

If you knew you'd die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?
I’d get a huge mocha coffee and a gigantic bag of dog treats, then plop myself down in the middle of the nearest dog park!